Jasper Taylor (musician)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jasper Taylor (born January 1, 1894 in Texarkana , Arkansas , † November 7, 1964 in Chicago ) was an American jazz musician ( washboard , woodblock , drums , xylophone ).

Live and act

Taylor grew up in Texas and played drums on Young Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show when he was twelve. He began his early career in minstrel shows and theater bands. From 1913 he played drums, xylophone and washboard in Memphis with WC Handys Orchestra of Memphis ("Fuzzy Fuzzy Rag", Columbia , 1917).

In 1917 Taylor moved to Chicago and played in Clarence Jones' Orchestra. During World War I he was a member of a military band , the 365th Infantry Band stationed in France , also known as Buffalo Soldiers , and in which numerous African American soldiers from Texas and Oklahoma served. After his return to America he worked for Will Marion Cook and with WC Handy in New York. He returned to Chicago in the early 1920s and for the following decade worked with Dave Peyton, Jelly Roll Morton , Jimmy O'Bryant , Joe Jordan , Jimmy Blythe , Freddie Keppard , Reuben Reeves , Tampa Red , Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon , Fess Williams and Clarence Williams , also with the blues musicians Georgia Tom and Alberta Hunter .

In early 1928 Taylor recorded for the first time under his own name ("Stomp Time Blues" / "It Must Be the Blues", Paramount ); in his band Jasper Taylor and His State Street Boys played Freddie Keppard (Korneet), Eddie Ellis (trombone), Johnny Dodds (clarinet) and Tiny Parham (piano). Taylor made further recordings in June 1928 for Vocalion ( Jasper Taylor and His Original Washboard Band , "Jasper Taylor Blues", with RQ Dickerson , Johnny Dodds and vaudeville singer Julia Davis).

During the American Depression Years , Taylor was forced to work outside the music business and was a cobbler. In the 1940s he resumed his music career and played in the Chicago area a. a. with Punch Miller , Natty Dominique and Lil Hardin Armstrong . In 1953 he recorded with Art Hodes ("Someday Sweetheart"); 1961 with Lovie Austin (" Sweet Georgia Brown "). Taylor participated in 50 recording sessions from 1917 to 1961.

Sandor Demlinger and John Steiner ( Destination Chicago Jazz ) see Taylor as "eccentric rhythmists" like Clifford "Snags" Jones and Baby Dodds .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ The Blues Encyclopedia , edited by Edward Komara, Peter Lee. 2004, p. 285
  2. ↑ Tom Lord The Jazz Discography (online, accessed September 25, 2015)
  3. ^ Sandor Demlinger, John Steiner: Destination Chicago Jazz . 2003, page 90
personal data
SURNAME Taylor, Jasper
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician (washboard, woodblock, drums, xylophone)
DATE OF BIRTH January 1, 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH Texarkana , Arkansas
DATE OF DEATH November 7, 1964
Place of death Chicago